SANTA CRUZ -- Defense attorneys intend to challenge the car stop of two men pulled over in Watsonville after a homicide in downtown Santa Cruz, they said in court Friday.

Damian Padilla, 19, and Aaron James Jimenez, 25, were arrested soon after the homicide of Pauly Silva about 12:30 a.m. on Feb. 9.

Witnesses had told police the shooter fled in a green or gray 1990s model Mercedes. Watsonville police pulled over a Mercedes within 30 minutes or so, off South Green Valley Road south of Main Street.

Padilla and Jimenez were charged with illegal possession of ammunition and gang participation.

Padilla remains in County Jail with bail set at $25,000; Jimenez posted bail and is out of custody. Jimenez also faces a probation violation charge.

They were in court Friday to set a preliminary hearing.

Outside court earlier this week, Jimenez said he is off probation and that he had nothing to do with the homicide. He said Santa Cruz police wouldn't tell him why he was in custody as they forcibly swabbed his hands, apparently looking for gunshot residue.

Police have not named the men as suspects.

Deputy Chief Steve Clark said police absolutely had the right to stop the car after a countywide alert was issued in connection with the homicide.

"The vehicle and individuals closely matched the description," Clark said. "That's how it works."

Defense attorneys Diana August and Bryan Hackett are not so sure, though they say they need more information and don't have the necessary police reports.

"I filed a motion challenging the legality of the detention of my client and am still waiting for more information," August said, declining to elaborate without more documentation.

Hackett said he was concerned with "this sort of broad stop." He said it was not yet clear whether his client was still on formal probation or if he had search terms from some sort of conditional sentence.

In court Friday, Prosecutor Jason Gill promised to get the information as soon as he could. Outside court, he said it was a justified stop.

The men are due back in court Wednesday, for the motion and a preliminary hearing.